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Tips for making home-made reflectors.
What are some tips for making the best and most portable reflectors especially the large ones -- home-made stuff? May 14 08 06:39 am Link Cosmotee PhotoOvr wrote: White foamcore. May 14 08 06:39 am Link Large pieces of foamcore can be scored with an x-acto blade, then reinforced with tape to make them foldable and easier to transport or store. May 14 08 06:41 am Link Thanks for the tips. Appreciated. May 14 08 07:21 am Link Brandon Ching wrote: cardboard, aluminum foil and tape is great also. just wrinkle the foil before you tape it to the cardboard to make reflection even. May 14 08 07:24 am Link I made two using 3/4" pvc pipe. elbows for the corners and tee fittings for the center of the long sides. then I ran bungee cord through the whole thing to hold it together when i pull it apart for transport. I got black and white ripstop nylon at a fabric shop for diffuser and reducer and silver material for bounce. couldn't find any gold fabric though. May 14 08 07:27 am Link soak a white blanket in tea. and let it dry. gives a great atmosphere. or coffee May 14 08 07:29 am Link anyone know of a source for larger than 2x3 foamcore? May 14 08 07:29 am Link I found this book in the LA airport magazine store. It has great ideas for making your own reflectors, softboxes, light tables, etc, etc.  May 14 08 07:34 am Link Joseph Moran wrote: Pearl Paint in NYC, elsewhere, and on the web. You can get up to 4'x8' sheets of foamcore. May 14 08 07:47 am Link Reflectors Car SunshadeProfessional reflector boards are used to add or control light in a scene. You can make your own from just about any large reflective object, although the exact colour and reflectivity will obviously affect your lighting. Common suggestions for an improvised reflector include: * Windshield sunshade * Sheet of foamcore * Polystyrene sheet * Stiff cardboard, or tin foil on cardboard (try both sides of the foil for different effects) * Whiteboard * Survival blanket (gold on one side and silver on the other) Hobby shops have a lot of items which may be of interest. Online auction sites are also worth checking as reflectors can often be found fairly cheap there. I also would add ebay has a number of extremely cheap reflectors of course your mileage will vary... May 14 08 07:54 am Link Things To Look At wrote: Hard to find these days. at least in my area. as an option, foam insulating panels can be bought at home depot in thicknesses from 1/2" to 2". they have a silver coating on them, but could be painted any color you want. May 14 08 07:56 am Link Windshield sunshade are the best for portability.You can roll them.To hold them you make a frame(collapsible) out of 3/4 in. pvc tubing.You make little holes in the material(sunshade)and install small rubber bands.At the same emplacement,you screw a little big head wood screw(or metal screw)in the pvc tubing(at the inside of the frame)to hold the rubber bands tight and keeping the shade on the frame. May 14 08 11:05 am Link Nice responses. Thank you all. May 17 08 12:35 pm Link I used a pizza box once.. grease and all!  -PKD May 17 08 12:56 pm Link Bedsheets I always take bedsheets on location with me and have used them for many years. Most of the layouts I shot for Penthouse and Playboy used bedsheets in one way or another. You can hang them on walls You can have someone hold them You can drape them over a car You can lay it on the floor in front of a model to reflect light up into her face You can wash them You can get them anywhere KM May 17 08 01:00 pm Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: You just made every high-nosed photographer who bitches about bedsheets cringe you know May 17 08 01:03 pm Link Muslin can be quite useful too. It's really cheap, can be found in widths ranging from 36 inches to 108 inches. I've used it as a reflector. Hung in front of windows, it can be like a huge uniform light source. May 17 08 01:06 pm Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: Thats it...Im using bedsheets.. May 17 08 01:07 pm Link I've made some with mylar sheets from a crafts store. They come in both silver and gold and are very durable. I then used spray adhesive to on 1/4" poster board that was stronger than cardboard but still easy to cut. I think I spent about $15 all together and got several reflectors. The spray adhesive was half of that cost. May 17 08 01:10 pm Link AnnaInez Photography wrote: Oh, yeah . . . I forgot to mention . . . . if the model forgets to bring her wardrobe or for some reason it gets lost . . . you can always wrap her up in the sheet and shoot her in it. May 17 08 01:14 pm Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: That's it... Im running to buy some bedsheets!!! May 17 08 01:23 pm Link oops, a bit too late! I guess everyone tought the same  May 17 08 01:25 pm Link oops, a bit too late! I guess everyone tought the same May 17 08 01:25 pm Link Joseph Moran wrote: art store May 17 08 01:27 pm Link Joseph Moran wrote: try local art supply stores May 17 08 01:28 pm Link How about the reflector they use for car windows to keep your car cool from the sun when you park your car in the hot sun ...... May 17 08 01:33 pm Link PK Digital Imaging wrote: Talk about improvising. Got to make something from whatever is available. May 18 08 12:26 pm Link Cardboard and foil...it's something you can find in any house. I have also been told those things you put in your windsheild work great and they are cheap and large. May 18 08 12:29 pm Link Things To Look At wrote: i get mine at pearl too, great source for many unusual things May 18 08 12:33 pm Link wear white clothing (you) many times a white shirt or lighter colors ad quite a bit of reflection into a shot, can also be a problem when you don't want it too, so plan accordingly May 18 08 12:35 pm Link I made my own from a huge pop-open hoop. You can find them everywhere, sun shades, childrens play tents, etc... Mine came from a large promotional sign that we had at work. I cut the sign fabric off it, then got out the sewing machine and sewed white rip-stop nylon fabric to it. It's about 6ft in around and works great as both light diffusion, and as a reflector. I've built two of these now and have four more of these hoops. May 18 08 12:43 pm Link I use one letter size copy paper and just shoot very small subjects. May 18 08 12:45 pm Link PYPI wrote: LMAO! May 18 08 06:01 pm Link Joseph Moran wrote: Home depot under the insulation section 4'x8' for $8 May 18 08 06:07 pm Link If you go to home depot and look in the section that has interior paneling, you will often find 1/8 inch 4 x 8 white paneling that is simi-reflective. I think it is used to panel walls of commercial kitchens and bathrooms that have to be washed regularly. It is more reflective than foam core board but not as harsh as a foil board. May 18 08 11:22 pm Link thanks guys - this was a great thread - btw, if you're looking for a 2 x 3 piece of foamcore - I get mine at Michaels - $1.99. May 18 08 11:28 pm Link I use a hospital blanket that has a nice metallic surface. Another trick I have is I goto the Dollar store and buy an umbrella and break off the pole then line it with aluminum foil. May 19 08 01:38 am Link Joseph Moran wrote: Home depot ,, just bought a 4 by 8 sheet of it,, 11 bucks May 10 12 10:54 pm Link LOL. Some of these posts are really funny. I love the sense of humor of an artist! May 10 12 11:10 pm Link |
